Reaffirming the role of high speed rail

The Star

26-07-2025

MORE than 2,000 delegates from over 60 countries converged on Beijing earlier this month to celebrate the achievement of high speed rail (HSR) on a global scale and to determine the way forward for this unique form of transportation.
Co-hosted by the International Union of Railways (UIC) and China State Railway Group Co Ltd (CR), the 12th World Congress on High-Speed Rail was themed 'High-Speed Rail: Innovation and Development for a Better Life'. The bulk of the organisation work done by the China Academy of Railway Sciences Corporation Ltd, with the support of the CRRC Group Corporation Ltd, Knorr-Bremse Group, and China Railway Signal & Communication Group.
UIC is a body that promotes rail transport globally with the objective of responding effectively to mobility challenges and sustainable development by fostering cooperation among members; it also promotes interoperability and the development of solutions to railway system-related issues.
The world's collective mileage of HSR tracks has reached 65,000km across 22 countries, and is poised to grow as thousands more kilometres are under construction now.
For example, China's HSR network will surpass the 50,000km mark over the next few years, further cementing its status as the world's most extensive high-speed network. This is followed by Spain with nearly 4,000km, Japan with nearly 3,000km, and France with over 2,800km.
For context, UIC's definition for HSR refers primarily to commercial speeds of at least 250kph for new builds, while upgraded lines should allow at least 200kph.
As rail travel is increasingly hailed as an appropriate means of mobility in an era where carbon emissions need to be curbed, the focus on how to make rail travel faster, safer, and smoother was naturally the focus of the congress.
The gathering is held every two to three years; the 11th UIC World Congress was held in Marrakech, Morocco, in 2023.
This 12th congress succeeded in serving as a platform for showcasing HSR achievements and fostering technological exchange. Through its two roundtables and 30 technical sessions, and enriched with over 700 paper submissions from 27 countries, many fresh perspectives were shared among UIC member states.
The congress also featured railway-themed public outreach, railway fan engagement, and technical visits that involved China's latest generation of smart high-speed trains as well as a peek behind the China National Rail Testing Centre (CNRTC) on the outskirts of Beijing.
A trade exhibition, Modern Railways 2025, was concurrently held with the congress attracting 521 companies from 14 countries, and a large volume of visitors.
China's HSR prowess
Located at the China Academy of Railway Sciences, the National Rail Testing Centre is also known as the National Engineering Laboratory for HSR System Test, and is a key facility for research and testing of various aspects of HSR technology in China.
For the congress and trade exhibition, China brought together 30 train models, from the most basic to the cutting edge CR450 Fuxing EMU trains that are designed for commercial operations at 400kph, as well as sleek magnetic levitation (maglev) train prototypes, offering a peek into how far the land transport envelope can be pushed.
In his opening speech, UIC chairman Dr Alan Beroud said there is no doubt that the global HSR network will continue to grow, with dozens of new lines either planned or being built around the world.
'As the world confronts the growing urgency of climate change, a centuries-old innovation is offering a distinctly modern solution,' he said referring to the bicentennial of modern rail this year – the United Kingdom's Stockton & Darlington Railway opened for service on Sept 27, 1825 (see railway200.co.uk for a commemoration).
HSR, once admired for practicality and convenience, is now a vital tool in curbing emissions in the post-Paris Agreement 2015 era.
The Paris Agreement is a binding international treaty with the main goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels through nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
Under NDCs, each country sets its own emission reduction targets, with self reporting every five years.
The agreement includes provisions for financial assistance and technology transfers to help poorer countries make that critical leap to a low or lower emission environment.
In this regard, HSR is one of the most powerful tools to reduce transport emissions, said Beroud, adding that it produces up to 90% less carbon dioxide than air travel, while able to shift millions from road and air to rail.
'This is a huge opportunity. If countries are serious about meeting their Paris Agreement targets, HSR must be part of the solution,' he said before hailing China's achievements in HSR as a treasure trove of lessons for others.
'Several concrete takeaways can be drawn from China's HSR experience, both in construction and operation,' Beroud said.
'Its long-term planning, and the integration of rail infrastructure into broader national development strategies, is a model worth learning from.'
Regional progress
China's latest HSR export to South-East Asia has been well received, with the Jakarta-Bandung HSR making a huge difference for Indonesia as it cuts travel time from more than three hours to a mere 46 minutes.
In land-locked Laos, the China-Laos Railway linking China's Kunming and the Lao capital, Vientiane, has become a shining example of how cross-border connectivity should work, even though the line within Laos is not classified as HSR as its design speed is 160kph.
From the Lao perspective, a train that zips by at 160kph (faster than any train in Malaysia) to connect it with China (and by extension, to the rest of the world) is miles better than no train at all, even if the country has to borrow heavily to build its first modern rail system.
'The development of HSR networks is bringing a better life to the people,' said Sommad Pholsena, vice-president of the Lao National Assembly, who attended the congress.
Thailand has committed to building a HSR network linking its three airports, along with a connection to Vientianne, demonstrating that it also believes in the potential of rail to give it a competitive edge.
Renewed ambition
For Beroud, the conclusion of the congress brought about 'a moment of clarity' for many.
'It is not just a technical conference, for we have shown that at the global level, even in the Glo­­bal South, HSR is neither a distant dream nor a luxury, but a practical, powerful, and inclusive response to the challenges of the century,' he said in his closing speech.
'We have shown how it is possible to build it better, faster, and more efficiently, and at this event, we sensed an energy that we don't often find in conferences,' said Beroud, who is the CEO of Polish State Railways.
He argued passionately that the embrace of HSR requires clear thinking, long-term commitment, as well as political courage.
'More importantly, we need a new way of thinking. We need to stop measuring infrastructure projects purely in terms of cost per kilometre. Instead, we have to look at what HSR can deliver – employment, inclusivity, access to jobs and services, and the urgency of the climate crisis.
'The cost of doing nothing is far higher, and this is not just social costs. Therefore, to build HSR is an act of responsibility.'
HSR in Malaysia
The focus on HSR is apt as Malaysia will soon see its fastest ever train service (when operating commercially) in the form of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), which has a design speed of 160kph.
From all accounts, the ECRL will revolutionise passenger travel between the east and west coasts of Peninsular Malaysia, and has the potential to change how cargo is moved across the country, if not the region.
As far as the proposed bilateral HSR project is concerned, or what is known as the 350km-long Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR, industry players will be keen to discern the direction that Malaysia will take as it hosts the HSR Asia conference from Sept 24 to 25.
The conference is expected to bring together policymakers, operators, developers, technology innovators, and financiers to dissect the future of HSR across the Asia-Pacific.
Themed 'Accelerating Asia Pacific's High-Speed Rail Revolution: Connectivity, Mobility, Sustainability, Innovation & Financing', the conference will explore how transformative rail projects can reshape regional mobility to fuel sustainable growth while advan­­cing technological frontiers.
More information is available at stratcomsevents.com/ hsrasia25.